She pressed herself against the Minoan. The curves of their bodies fitted together perfectly, as if they had been created for each other.
‘You’re mad,’ he said. ‘Someone might catch us.’
‘How exciting that is,’ she whispered, untying her lover’s kilt and revealing his obvious arousal.
‘Windswept, no—‘
‘I’m in love with you, Minos, truly in love. Nothing should be forbidden to us.’
Although she was still a formidable carnivore, and still devoured the emperor’s enemies by extracting bedroom confessions, she was sincerely in love with the painter, whose innocence had touched her heart. The more bored she grew in the arms of her fleeting lovers, the more intense was the pleasure she felt each time she gave herself to him. She could no longer do without him. She would never allow him to return to Minoa, even if she let him believe otherwise.
‘Your paintings grow more and more beautiful,’ she murmured, stretching out on top of him.
‘I have made a new shade of blue, which gives greater warmth, and I’m planning to improve my other colours.’
‘Will you remake your old paintings?’
‘I shall have to.’
‘The beauty you have created makes this fortress almost pleasant.’
‘Please let’s not talk about work any more. I’d rather pay attention to the work of art I’m caressing.’
A wave of pleasure flowed through Windswept. Only Minos could make her forget her crimes.
The special reception hosted by the High Treasurer and his wife was an enormous success. Most of the Hyksos senior officers were present, and they thoroughly enjoyed their first experience of opium; they were sure to become loyal customers.
Windswept had set her cap at an official responsible for weapons. He had made a few acid remarks about the front at Qis, which sounded like criticism of the emperor’s policy. If that were indeed so, she would draw out his confidences, and there would be a new candidate for the labyrinth.
Yima had made sure to congratulate Minos on the splendour of his sculptures, and Windswept was jealous to see that hussy getting too close to her lover. If she continued to do so, the emperor’s sister would find a way to rid herself of her rival.
‘Aren’t you going to try our latest delicacy?’ Khamudi asked Minos.
‘Judging by the behaviour of those who have, it would make my hand shake.’
‘Wouldn’t it give you new ideas?’
‘At the moment, I have plenty of those.’
‘You’ll come to the drug, I’m sure. How can an artist manage without it? You can rely upon me to obtain it for you at the best price.’
‘Your concern touches me, High Treasurer.’
‘What could be more natural, my young friend? I’m extremely fond of modern art.’
The reception was drawing to an end, and Minos managed to escape. Pretending to be returning to his own quarters, he walked away from the citadel, glancing round several times to see if he was being followed. As he headed towards the district where most of the senior officers lived, he almost walked straight into a patrol. His heart pounding, he slid into an alleyway, hoping that none of the men had noticed him.
He had to wait several minutes until he got his breath back; then he continued on his way. Ten times, the painter halted and looked around him. Reassured, he ran the last hundred paces that separated him from the house of the man he was to meet in such great secrecy.
As agreed, the house and its outbuildings were in darkness. Minos sneaked up to the entrance, and the door opened.
‘Are you sure no one followed you?’ asked a strained voice.
‘Absolutely sure.’
‘Come in, quickly.’
The two men sat down and spoke in hushed voices.
‘Have you contacted any other dignitaries?’ asked Minos.
Only two, and I took the strictest precautions. But I cannot say that they are really reliable. In my opinion, it would be better to give up your plans. Conspiring against the emperor is much too dangerous. Everyone who has tried has died in agony.’
‘If I can’t get rid of Apophis, I’ll never be able to return to Minoa—that would cause me agony, too. Overthrowing that tyrant is the only way.’
The emperor has many networks of informants, not to mention Khamudi’s agents. It’s almost impossible to plan any kind of action against him.’
“‘Almost”—there’s hope in that word! We have two allies already. That’s a start, isn’t it?’
‘Frankly, I’m afraid it won’t be.’
‘Aren’t you determined to fight against Apophis, too?’
‘I was, but he’s grown so powerful that no one can oppose him. If you try, you’ll end up in the labyrinth.’
‘The emperor needs me,’ Minos reminded him. ‘Who else could decorate his citadel in the Minoan manner? He thinks I’m submissive and resigned, and I’m the last person he’d suspect. That’s a big advantage, and we must exploit it.’
The other man wavered. ‘There’s some truth in that, but are you really aware of the danger?’
‘I’m prepared to do anything at all to regain my freedom and return to my home. In the meantime, you must continue to make contact with future enemies of the emperor.’
Windswept would have liked to spend the night with Minos, but he had seemed in a hurry to leave the opium reception and go to bed. So she was thoroughly surprised to see him emerge from his quarters, taking a thousand precautions as he did.
Curious, she followed her lover, whose behaviour she found strange. When she saw him enter the house belonging to the weapons official suspected of plotting against the emperor, she felt a brutal pain in her heart.
Minos, the only man she had ever truly loved … Was he in league with a traitor?
40
Each morning, Teti the Small summoned the officers responsible for security at the military base and in the town of Thebes. Lookout posts had been set up north and south of the city, to raise the alarm in the event of a Hyksos attack. Thanks to hard work by Heray, agriculture was flourishing again. Farmers were celebrating the birth of many, many calves, lambs and piglets; it was as if the herds and flocks felt reassured by the establishment of a lasting peace, and had returned to their normal fertility.
In addition, Neshi was proving an excellent Overseer of the Treasury. Having put an end to the black market, he was now applying the ancient rules, which stipulated that powerful people must not live at the expense of the weak. He reported to Teti about the size and nature of commercial exchanges, which were principally regulated by the temple at Karnak.
Although her days were busy, the old lady took time to oversee the upbringing of Prince Ahmose, who had become not only an excellent archer and a good swordsman, but also a scholar able to write in hieroglyphs or the language of government. Teti made him read stories and the teachings of sages like Ptah-hotep. The little boy’s seriousness surprised his military instructors: obedient, determined, never balking at additional work, he pushed himself to the limits of his strength.
He was gifted with a remarkable memory and a lively intelligence, and had a real thirst for knowledge of all kinds.
Ordinarily, Ahmose rose with the sun and breakfasted with his grandmother. When he did not appear, Teti asked her maid to wake him.
The servant soon came hurrying back. ‘Majesty, the prince has a bad fever. His forehead is burning, and he’s shaking all over.’
Teti went to him immediately. She felt responsible for him, and there might be a great destiny in store for him. There could be no doubt that his premature death would be a fatal blow to the queen.
Ahhotep had suffered from similar illnesses at that age, so Teti decided to use similar remedies to relieve the heart by unblocking the channels that led to and from it. This would enable the boy’s life-energies to circulate properly again. Ignoring the fever, which was merely a symptom, she concentrated on three vital organs, the liver, the spleen and the lungs. She ad
ministered a potion whose ingredients—bull’s meat, terebinth resin, sweet-clover, juniper leaves, sweet beer and fresh bread—had been carefully measured out.
The little boy held his grandmother’s hand tightly. ‘Do you think I’m going to die?’
‘Certainly not. You still have too much to learn.’
There are boats coming, Majesty,’ announced Emheb.
‘From which direction?’ asked Kamose.
‘The south.’
‘Make the agreed signals.’
If it was Ahhotep, she would reply by hoisting a sail on which was painted a boat containing the moon’s disc. If it was not, battle must be joined on the river.
The sail ran up slowly; too slowly. Because of the intense midday sun, it was impossible to see if the sign was there. The Thebans’ nerves stretched gradually to breaking-point.
The moon! I can see it!’ exclaimed Emheb. ‘It is indeed the queen’s flotilla.’
The symbol of Ahhotep and the rebel movement shone from the top of her ship’s mast. The drums began to beat a joyful rhythm, celebrating the unification of all the Egyptian forces.
While the young king kissed his mother, the soldiers congratulated each other.
Ahhotep said, in some surprise, ‘I am bringing you only meagre reinforcements, my son, but you seem to have recruited many more.’
Kamose could not hide his pride. They’re boatmen, merchants, former mercenaries serving the Hyksos. They had to be persuaded that they had chosen the wrong side. It wasn’t always easy, but in the end they realized where their interests lay. Our victory will ensure that their lives are far more pleasant than under the Hyksos.’
Ahhotep smiled joyfully. ‘You are becoming a true pharaon, Kamose.’
The queen’s presence had had a consequence no one had dared hope for: it had united the disparate elements of the Egyptian army. In addition, the men’s minds were no longer haunted by fear, but were now nourished by the wildest of dreams: defeating the empire of darkness.
A heavy silence lay over the front at Qis. Everyone was waiting for the council of war’s decision. Many had wagered that it would be the sensible one of making Qis Thebes’s new northern frontier by erecting fortifications there.
‘I’ve sworn to break through the obstacle posed by Khmun,’ Kamose told the council. ‘The Hyksos control-post must be dismantled.’
‘The Jar of Predictions is said to be hidden in the temple,’ added Ahhotep. ‘We need it if we are to decide our strategy and save many lives.’
‘Let us attack Khmun,’ proposed Kamose.
Calm and steady as ever, Emheb felt it necessary to bring the young monarch back to reality. ‘Majesty, Khmun is out of reach.’
‘Why?’
‘White we’ve been holding the front at Qis, we’ve had time to study the Hyksos positions. At great risk to their lives, two scouts got through the enemy front line and discovered their rear base. It is Nefrusy, capital of the sixteenth province of Upper Egypt, which is governed by a collaborator, Tita, son of Pepi.’
‘Is there a fortress like the one at Per-Hathor?’ asked Ahhotep.
‘No, but Nefrusy is defended by very strong ramparts indeed, and I don’t think our army can take it.’
‘Has this Tita sold his soul to the emperor?’ asked Kamose.
‘Unfortunately, yes, Majesty. He was nothing but a simple boatman who made his fortune by transporting the invaders. He denounced the rebels and Apophis gave him the town as a reward. The only thing that matters to him is the empire, which ensures his wealth and power.’
‘The perfect example of a coward and a traitor!’ roared Kamose.
‘Most of the present governors of the Northern provinces are like him,’ lamented Emheb. ‘They’re convinced that the emperor is invincible and that our army will never get beyond Qis. You won’t persuade any of them to change sides.’
‘Then they shall die!’
‘No one wants such vermin exterminated more than I do. But the Hyksos protect them and make them prosper.’
Then what do you think would be the best strategy?’
‘To make the frontier at Qis impregnable,’ said Emheb, ‘by building fortifications and blocking the Nile with cargoboats lashed together.’
‘What? And give up our goal of reunifying the Two Lands?’ asked Ahhotep anxiously.
‘By no means, Majesty. We shall merely be adapting to a given situation. At Edfu, at Thebes and at Qis, we analysed the situation correctly, and success smiled upon us. We must not spoil our progress by acting hastily.’
Neshi had always been opposed to caution. But this time he thought Emheb’s analysis was sensible. Besides, no one could accuse the governor of lacking courage: without him, the front at Qis could not have held out for long.
Six days of high fever. Six days, during which little Ahmose was often delirious, imploring his dead father and his absent mother not to abandon him to the hungry mouths of the demons of night.
The palace doctor was pessimistic. He had not added anything to the remedies prescribed by Teti, who spent all her time at Ahmose’s bedside and left Qaris to deal with pressing matters of government.
During his moments of lucidity, the sick child regretted being so puny and being unable to continue his weapons training. His grandmother reassured him and read him the teachings of sage Imhotep, the genius who had created the first stone pyramid at Saqqara, near the town of Memphis, which was now occupied by the Hyksos.
Twice, Teti thought she had lost her grandson, whose breathing grew fainter and fainter. But the brightness in his eyes refused to yield to the dark, and he drew his last strength from her unshakeable confidence. Not for a moment did he ever sense doubt in her; she kept him firmly anchored to life.
It was this attitude, as much as the remedies, which brought about the prince’s recovery. On the seventh day he rose and ate a hearty breakfast on the palace terrace, in the company of a joyful and very relieved grandmother.
41
To people who, like the Syrians, had seen a bear, Tita, son of Pepi, looked just like a monstrous one, with his enormous head, bushy eyebrows and snout-shaped nose. He terrorized his underlings and never forgave even the smallest fault. An excellent pupil of the Hyksos, he based his power on violence and cruelty. In the emperor’s image, each month Tita executed one of his fellow citizens, chosen at random. The people of Nefrusy were forced to attend the ceremony, which ended with a ritual song praising Apophis’s greatness.
The bear was very pleased with his province and his capital, and wanted nothing but to rule there as absolute master. To thank him for his fidelity, the emperor had given him permission to build ramparts, which made Nefrusy look most impressive.
His wife, Anat, was equally notable. A blue-eyed Syrian with a fiery temperament, she constantly infuriated him by criticizing all his decisions, which she considered were as stupid as they were unjust. Fortunately for her, this particular contest was the only one that Tita enjoyed. Besides, the tussles always ended up in the vast sycamore-wood bed, his palace’s finest ornament.
Tita expected to enjoy the day, because he was going to cut the throat of a youth guilty of rebellion against the emperor. Next, young girls would process past, singing a warlike poem composed by the bear himself. Anat had called it ridiculous doggerel, but it praised the emperor’s genius.
‘Aren’t you ready yet?’ asked Anat in surprise.
‘I want to look particularly handsome, my darling,’ said Tita. ‘My public appearances must delight the common folk.’
‘Is it really necessary to kill an innocent boy to cement your appalling reputation?’
‘Of course. At the slightest sign of leniency, rebels would spring up like weeds.’
‘I doubt if there are any left.’
‘Mistrust, suspicion … you’re wonderful. How does this new tunic look?’
‘Too showy.’
‘You really are unbearable, my darling.’
Shortly after dawn, Queen Ahho
tep convened the Supreme Council, which had pronounced on the future of Egypt. Its members were hoping for firm orders and for the armed forces to be divided between Thebes and Qis.
‘Tonight,’ revealed the queen, ‘Amon appeared to me, his sword in his hand. He was incarnate in the person of Pharaoh Kamose, and his eyes were as intensely bright as the noonday sun. “Did I not order you to destroy the Hyksos, and to carry out this mission whatever the obstacles?” he asked me. It is true that you are sensible and thoughtful men. It is true that the Hyksos are militarily superior to us. The front holds fast, Nefrusy is impregnable, and Khmun even more so. It is true that we have already achieved the impossible, and we have exhausted our reserves of heka, the only force capable of altering the cruel fate that has befallen our country. I know the reality. But it is my duty to reject it, not submit to it, because such is the will of Amon.
‘The hour has come to go beyond Qis, to cross that frontier and to strike north. That is the only strategy that will make possible the reunification of the Two Lands. If we are defeated, Thebes will be destroyed and there will be no further resistance to barbarism. If we bend, the result will be the same. No doubt you consider my determination senseless and would prefer to take refuge in a false sense of security. That is why I shall take only volunteers with me when I leave for the front.’
Kamose raised his hands, palms turned upwards to the heavens, in a sign of worship. “The pharaoh appointed by Amon has heard the voice of the Wife of God. His army will follow her. Any council members who disagree with our decision may return to Thebes immediately.’
No one moved.
‘What an incredible woman,’ murmured the Afghan for the hundredth time, as he watched Ahhotep speak to each soldier, instilling the courage they would all need.
‘It’s worth dying for her and for Egypt,’ said Moustache. ‘At least when we appear before the court of the otherworld, we shan’t have to hang our heads in shame.’
When Kamose appeared at the prow of the flagship, wearing the White Crown, the soldiers raised their weapons to the skies and the drums began to beat a frenzied rhythm.
War of the Crowns Page 18
